14 - Dark clouds, then light breeze
(this fragment of my story is dated approximately 1 year prior to current Bar-en-Acharn's doings and adventures)
“Don’t die,“ whispered Kor.
We did it, he read on her mouth warped by pain.
„We will heal you.“
The crossbow bolt was like four inches right of her bellybutton. Luckily the wound wasn’t bleeding much.
„Yes, we will,“ added Orchalwë, suddenly also leaning to her. „Clench you teeth, pretty girl.“
With a sudden crack, the Ranger broke the protruding part of the bolt. Plusheila stretched and gasped, but the pain was over. Then Orchalwë put a piece of cloth bandage on the wound.
„Hold it there, for Valar’s sake,“ said then and Plusheila hardly noticeably nodded.
„Do you feel taste of blood in your mouth?“
She shook head.
„We need to get her to the keep soon,“ said Kor. Nobody objected.
The few slightly wounded Rangers treated their slashes with makeshift bandages, so the Tinnudir healer could focus firstly on Plusheila.
Uiriel started with her craft just on the beach. She reached deeply into her supplies bag to find the strongest ointment.
The brownish paste looked strange, no doubt. But visibly stopped even the weak bleeding.
“It seems your bowels are not hurt, or just lightly. But the arrow needs to get out.”
“Can I help somehow?” asked Kor.
Uiriel looked at him quickly and then focused back on Plusheila. She prepared the wooden stick to insert between the teeth of the wounded.
“Yes, you can,” said she finally. “Keep everyone away. And bring her some strong spirits.”
Then she grabbed a small knife and started to whittle it thoroughly.
Kor was sitting on the pier, plunged in thoughts. The fish-hook was jerking and dancing, but he wasn’t perceiving it, staring into far nowhere.
Plusheila was sleeping, exhausted and doped. It seemed the wound wasn’t lethal, but nothing was sure yet.
He was sitting and drowning in cheerless thoughts for already a few hours. Meanwhile, the Tinnudir camp buzzed with common traffic, several people arrived, somebody left.
Sudden footsteps didn’t awake Kor from lethargy, only pat on the shoulder.
“Captain, can I have your attention for a moment?”
„There’s a message for you,“ said another familiar Ranger voice.
A message?
Kor turned from the water. Gurhebnir stood there with an unknown elf and also Calenglad, who was holding a scroll.
Who could have sent me something?
Calenglad went straight to the point, as usual.
“Your famous deeds reached up to Rivendell. Master Elrond himself wants to speak with you.”
What?
The Ranger haven’t handed him the letter. But only the look of it - neat, clean, and noble - was confirming Calenglad’s words. Kor also noticed elvish runes near the seal.
“Come on, man, it’s a great honor,” said Gurhebnir.
Kor smirked in spite of feeling his ego tickled. Shove honor up your…
Calenglad read in his face.
“The elves offer you a job, you fool.”
The elf newcomer stepped a bit forward and smiled. “Exactly. But I don’t know any details. Only I can say that we need you to fight the enemy elsewhere.”
They sent a letter AND a messenger. This is serious…
Kor shrugged. “Okay. But at this moment I’m stuck here.“
Calenglad turned to the elf.
“You see, Aragil… Kor’s companion was gravely wounded yesterday.”
Aragil raised eyebrows.
“So…?“
“We’re inseparable,“ explained Kor, who wasn’t very pleased that somebody, even Calenglad, was speaking for him.
“Do you have a healer here?” asked Aragil.
Then he wanted to see her.
Uiriel and also all the others weren’t hesitant to let use elven methods on the patient. Any help is appreciated.
“I am no expert, but what I see is good. Still, it would be better if she is taken soon to master healers of our kin,” said Aragil after examining Plusheila.
Calenglad frowned. “Rivendell is a long way from here…”
Aragil looked at him surprised. “I had Celondim on my mind. If we follow the river, we can be there in a few days…”
Nobody was thinking of the shortcut across the hills. It was longer than forgotten.
Soon, the following plan was arranged. The Tinnudir troops could spare a few men for a day, to make sure Kor and Aragil, carrying a stretcher with the patient, will traverse safely through the pass overgrown with bushes and vines. At the river, the concealed elven boat could carry all three of them south, following the stream.
“Be a good boy,” said Kor his goodbye to Tarnon and patted him on the shoulder. The rogue intended to return to Esteldín, where Rangers needed him yet.
“Aye, old man,” said Tarnon. “Maybe I’ll stop by at the elves, too.“
The escorting Rangers also made sure the newly discovered path is well mapped and secured for the future.
Plusheila awoke after half hour on the water. The soft swaying on the gentle waves was an unknown experience and made her senses alert.
“Hush, pretty girl, you need to rest.” stole Kor some of Orchalwë’s words.
She didn’t mind. After all the fighting and sleeping on hard ground, this was nice surprise.
After a day, they entered the beautiful Lune valley. Most of the trip they all were silent. Plusheila obviously and also due to resting, Kor naturally laconic and Aragil naturally elvish – whole trio was just inhaling the atmosphere of one of the most picturesque places of Eriador.
“We should land to make camp for the night,“ proposed Kor.
Aragil smiled.
“Don’t worry. Get some sleep, I will guide the boat through the night.“
Kor looked at him. Of course, Ryon also had no problem in the night assault. He realized they can rely on Aragil completely.
He checked her wound again, putting the poultice given by Uiriel on and around it. She didn’t got fever. Yet. Or at all?
He laid back and closed eyes, but not before sending a silent prayer to Elbereth.
First rays of sun hit them already at the Celondim port, trying to get the stretcher with Plusheila up to the wharf. Soon many elven arms reached to help them. She was transported to house of healing in nearly no time.
“It will be better if you stay outside, Kortheod,” said the healers. But Plusheila has holding his hand so firmly, that her knuckles turned white.
“Succumb to the elvish magic,” smirked Kor. Then he looked at her with so much care like never before.
“Really. You are in good hands.”
He kissed her and then he freed himself from her grasp.
Firstly, she seemed to start crying, but suddenly she put on her “iron lady” mask. Only the silvery teardrop in one eye corner was betraying her.
“I will see some old friends. You can join me,” offered Aragil.
Kor was looking around, thinking about some activity in the coming day.
“One of them is a vintner.”
Kor nearly slapped himself in the forehead.
Of course! I forgot how near it is from here.
“Aragil, thank you, but I must refuse. I will also see a friend.”
Kor said goodbye to him and headed across the river to Falathlorn.
There was something happening at The Lair. A large commotion of elves, men and also dwarves were surrounding a grassy clearing at the stream. Kortheod slowly approached. He didn’t recognize any familiar face.
The gathered people were chatting and laughing, enjoying fine drinks from near table. Many were wearing fancy, elegant clothing, particularly women. But some from the crowd were laced into breastplates or leather armour, leaning on their weapons. The few dwarves were wearing chainmail.
What is happening here?
“Kortheod! What a nice surprise!” Seregrían was walking towards him, smiling.
“Suilad, Seregrían. I come unsuitably…”
“Not at all, not at all. Just the opposite! Come, let us have some wine!”
She explained to him, that there is a fighting contest among her friends and the neighborhood.
“And the fighter for our house has delayed, in fact we don’t know if he will arrive at all…” She turned to him with question in her eyes.
“Oh…“ He scratched head, measuring the opponents around.
I don’t stand much chance. But… why not?
At the same moment he realized her unspoken request is pleasing him.
“I will fight for you, my lady.”
She gave him a polite courtesy, but her eyes and mouth smiled more than etiquette could stand.
“My champion!” she whispered.
The first opponent was an agile fair-haired elf. He was wielding a short sword and a dagger. As the duel started, he was quick. Extremely quick. But he didn’t use his advantage fully. On the other hand, Kor used his own advantage – the reach of the hand-and-a-halfer. This victory was won.
Second fighter who stood against him was a tall, bearded man wielding a sword and a shield. He turned out to be a formidable opponent. Kor was withstanding quite long, their swords clashed and clanged many times, until Kor lost balance and was hit.
The winner was to not lose any duel, so Kor was out. He walked to Seregrían a bit crestfallen, but she gave him a smile and another wine glass.
“Thank you, Kortheod.”
He looked at her unsure, but then he slightly smiled. Participation is enough, I see.
Then they watched the contest together. In the meantime, Seregrían introduced him to several members of her household. He always felt that meaning of this word is like “servant”, but now he realized his mistake. It was rather different.
The contest was won by a sturdy dwarven warrior. Everybody clapped and cheered, and it was funny to look at him, trying to bow in his tight padded coat and chainmail.
“My lady, I nearly forgot. I have a gift for you, from the north.”
“Oh, I’m curious.”
Kor reached into his sack and put out a small bottle from strong, milky glass.
“It is a special wine. Done by the locals in Forochel, known as Lumi-väki. You call them the Lossoth.”
“Thank you, my champion. I am looking forward to taste it. But let us leave it for later,” smiled Seregrían and turned to her other guests.
Kor nodded, digesting the pleasant tone between the words. It was saying a warmly invitation for the celebration. And the “later” meant “Stay as long as you like. You are a friend of the House.”
